A Dye House with a Raised Vent Roof
The Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba (Dye House) (森秀織物旧釜場, Morihide Orimono Kyū Kamaba) is a single-story timber dye house from around 1924, adjoining the south side of the Former Warping Shed on the west side of the Morihide Textiles site in Higashi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006.
Kamaba means "kettle place." Kiryu City records that dyeing kettles once stood here. Boiling and dyeing yarn fills a room with steam and heat, so the roof carries a raised ventilating ridge, a Koshi-yane. The national record gives 16.0 meters by 7.5 meters and a building area of 127 square meters, under a gabled tile roof.
It is registration number 10-0181. Today the room is divided east to west, with indigo vats on the east side and hand looms on the west, and it serves as the dyeing and weaving workshop room of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum.
Why the Former Kamaba Was Registered
The Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba was registered under the criterion for buildings that contribute to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it keeps the features of its original use and forms part of the factory scene.
The clearest of those features is the vent roof: a smaller roof set over the ridge, with a gap beneath it for steam to escape. The nature of the work is written on the outside of the building. Its walls match those of the Former Warping Shed to the north, and Kiryu City believes the two were built together.
What to Look For
From outside, look for the raised vent roof running along the middle of the gabled tile roof.
Inside, look up at the roof frame. Kiryu City describes a king-post truss, with two purlins running either side of the central post along the length of the building. The walls are boarded inside and out, and the timber of a room once full of steam is still there to see. Now indigo vats and hand looms fill it, and visitors can try dyeing and weaving themselves.
Visiting the Former Kamaba
The Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba is the museum's hands-on workshop room, where dyeing and hand-weaving sessions take place; groups need to book. Check the session details, how to book and the photography policy with the museum. Hours and admission are on the Morihide Textiles page.
Q&A
- When was the Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba built and registered?
- It was built around 1924 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006, under registration number 10-0181.
- What does "kamaba" mean in Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba?
- It means a kettle room. Dyeing kettles once stood here, and the raised vent roof let out the steam and heat.
- How is the Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba used today?
- It is divided east to west, with indigo vats on the east and hand looms on the west, as the workshop room of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum.
- Can I try dyeing or weaving in the Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba?
- Dyeing and hand-weaving sessions are held here. Groups must book, so check the details and how to apply with the museum.
- How large is the Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba?
- It is a single-story timber building of 16.0 meters by 7.5 meters, 127 square meters, with a gabled tile roof.
Basic Information
| Name | Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba (Dye House) (森秀織物旧釜場) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4-2-24 Higashi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2006 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-story timber, tile roof, building area 127 m², 16.0 m × 7.5 m |
| Owner | Morihide Orimono Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Open as the hands-on workshop room of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum (admission charged) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Morihide Textiles Former Kamaba (Dye House)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005575
- Kiryu City: Morihide Textiles Factory (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/bunkazai/1010700/kunitouroku/1002000.html
- Kiryu City: Morihide Textiles Factory and Orimono Sankokan Yukari, explanatory sheet (Japanese, PDF)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/002/000/yukari-2.pdf
- Kiryu City: Orimono Sankokan Yukari (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/spot/kiryu/1001866.html
Last verified: 2026.10.06
